Police probe finds nothing suspicious in inmate's death

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Authorities say they found nothing suspicious in the death of a Utah State Prison inmate who previously won a civil lawsuit after being raped in 2001 by a corrections officer.

Unified Police Detective Levi Hughes told The Associated Press that investigators found no indication why 29-year-old Priscilla Elizabeth Chavez died in her cell Friday. Her body was sent to the state medical examiner.

The woman's family members previously said they believe Chavez was a victim of neglect or retaliation in prison. Her mother says she had medical and mental health problems, was being heavily medicated and had heart trouble just weeks ago.

The Ogden woman was awarded $1.4 million against the prison guard in February 2010, but the judgment was apparently never paid. The Salt Lake Tribune earlier reported the Utah Department of Corrections settled the case for $25,000.

The Associated Press

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